Staff and Contact Information

General contact information

P.O. Box 750193
Dallas, Texas 75275

Phone: 214-768-2802
Fax: 214-768-3786

Rakesh Dahiya, CFA

Chief Investment Officer

As the University’s chief investment officer, Rakesh Dahiya is responsible for oversight of the total SMU endowment, including the endowment pool assets, mineral interests, and planned giving assets. He works with the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, setting agendas, developing policies, formulating investment strategies, as well as recommending specific investment managers and vehicles for carrying out the investment program. As a senior officer at SMU, Rakesh serves on the President’s Executive Council and works with leadership on matters related to endowment spending and the communication of endowment strategy and performance. He oversees investment research and analysis, implementation, risk management, accounting, performance measurement and reporting associated with the investment process, and with the management of real estate and mineral interests. Rakesh joined SMU in September 2016 after five years as Director of Marketable Strategies from the University of Florida Investment Corporation (UFICO). Prior to UFICO, he spent nine years at Washington University in St. Louis, and six years at Ralston Purina. Rakesh graduated from Iowa State University (BBA, Finance, 1994) and the University of Illinois (MBA, 1996).

Philip Griffin, CFA

Managing Director of Investments

As managing director of investments, Philip Griffin currently oversees public market investments across all asset classes, including: Global equity, fixed income and credit, and diversifying strategies. He previously served as a generalist recommending investments across all asset classes. Philip joined the investment office in 2006 after receiving a BBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University, where he was a President’s Scholar and three-time swimming and diving NCAA All-American. Philip became a CFA® charterholder in 2011.

Brad Demicco

Managing Director of Investments

As managing director of investments, Brad Demicco is responsible for developing investment strategy, monitoring existing portfolio investments and recommending new investments for SMU’s private investments program. He joined SMU in July 2017 after three years as Director of Private Markets at Emory University. Prior to Emory, he spent five years at Employees Retirement System of Texas and three years at Patriarch Partners, LLC. Brad earned his BBA in Finance from the University of Georgia, his MBA in Finance and Real Estate from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his JM in Transaction Law from Emory University School of Law.

Matt Milbourn

Manager of Investments

As manager of investments, Matt Milbourn is responsible for investment research, transaction underwriting, portfolio and performance analysis, monitoring existing portfolio investments and recommending new investments across asset classes. He joined SMU in October 2021 after three years as a senior investment analyst at the Alfred I. duPont Charitable Trust. Prior to duPont, he spent two years as an investment analyst at Washington University Investment Management Company. Matt earned his BA in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis.

David Barlow

Director of Investment Operations

As director of investment operations, David Barlow is responsible for managing the University's investment operations processes, including reporting and analysis, cash management and transactions, legal documentation, investment accounting, and operational due diligence on investment managers. He joined SMU in September 2023 after 11 years with Texas Tech University as their Deputy Director of Investment Operations and previously served as their Chief Analyst. David earned his BA in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin and his MS in Finance at The University of North Texas.

Mercedes Goss

Investment Operations Analyst

As investment operations analyst, Mercedes Goss is responsible for aggregating and organizing portfolio and investment data, executing cash transactions and monitoring cash accounts, reporting on performance, exposure, risk and liquidity in addition to data analysis and reconciliation. She joined SMU in January 2024 after 7 years with Charles Schwab as a Business Analyst. Prior to Schwab, she spent two years at Deutsche Bank as a Senior Operations Analyst. Mercedes earned her BS in Business Administration from Lee University.

Mallory Burt

Senior Administrative Assistant

As senior administrative assistant, Mallory Burt is responsible for executive support, office management and accounting liaison for the Investments Office. She joined SMU in March 2022 after three years as Asset Manager at Tregan Energy Partners. She has served in other administrative roles at Curtis Law Group and Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco. Currently, Mallory is pursuing her bachelor's at Southern Methodist University.